Race Report

On Top With Alchemy

Longtime friend Jim Yabsley has been a part of the new (and old) Alchemy programs from day one. Here he gives us his report on their first to finish, first in class, and first ULDB overall win on the Newport to Ensenada Race. Btw, your faithful Editor has received an invitation to race aboard Alchemy in a few weeks. Looking forward to it, fo' sho'. - Ed.

The 57th annual "Enchilada Derby" was slow for most; even the two largest boats, Magnitude (Andrews 80, canting keel) and Alchemy (Andrews 77, water-ballasted) fought the light air for the final 13 miles. After reviewing the race morning "Commanders" weather report and a special e-mail from our friend Mark Rudiger, it was apparent that we were not in for a record race. They both predicted a light southwesterly sea breeze most of the day with the Sea God's hitting the wind switch to "off" around midnight. The general consensus was to keep pretty much to rhumb line, and guard the inshore.
Friday morning in Newport Harbor was exceptionally beautiful with a balmy 10 knot offshore at Alchemy's masthead. Since this was not predicted, we knew we would have to be flexible in our strategy. On the way to the line, Dick Compton made it very clear that the first, second and third priority was to beat Magnitude over the line. At the start line the wind shifted abruptly to the west with a promising velocity of about 10 knots.
The start of the ULDB A class was competitive, the reaching start with boats ranging in size of 50' to 80' was quite exciting. It was quite an even start for most boats, with the line-up establishing itself pretty much by waterline length after 5 minutes. Then it was time for the first tactical challenge: the three lead boats Magnitude, Alchemy and Mongoose sailed directly into an invisible hole of zero wind velocity. The boats close astern quickly heated up to stay in the westerly, successfully they all motored quickly off to the horizon. It didn't take long for Medicine Man, Taxi and Grand Illusion to be indistinguishable, even with binoculars.
After slating with the drifter for 35 minutes fighting to get west to the breeze, Alchemy broke free and leaped down the coast at about 12-13 knots.

The only "pot of gold" in that miserable hole was that it decided to hold onto Magnitude for another 20 minutes! With a 4nm jump on them we were happy to work on the slower boats ahead. Most of the fleet kept well to seaward as we sailed slightly above rhumb line, protecting against the 80, who was well inside. With the Code Zero and full tanks and water, Alchemy left the rest of the fleets quickly behind. The breeze averaged about 13 knots most of the way to San Diego, plenty for this type of boat in heated sailing angles. Passing Point Loma at about 5:30pm, the wind started to lighten and shift aft. By 6pm we set the big A-3 and fought, successfully (barely), to stay below the South Coronado Island. By 7pm we were off the south Coronado navigating the 6 to 8 hazardous fish farms floating in the water. The second disaster struck when at about a boat length from the one we were to pass, a crewman on the bow screamed, "There's a line in the water!" Helmsman, Alan Andrews quickly turned Alchemy 90 degrees port, with the A3 turned inside the fore triangle, we watched in horror as the 1" line swept under the starboard side. Amazingly we were able to keep from getting tangled up as the line swept by the keel and rudder. The "pot of gold" showed up again 2 minutes later with a large wind line of about 15 knots off the island cliffs that allowed us to jibe to course and sail towards the barn at 13+ knots. Magnitude quickly faded from 4 nm astern to 7nm off Rosarito Beach at sunset.

At 9pm with 13nm to go, there was hope at a record if the wind held until 10pm. Anybody who has done an Ensenada race knows that the chance of this is closer to none than slim. Sure enough, at 9:15pm it was time to struggle for any progress towards the mark in a light swirling breeze. All while "Binocular Boy" in the stern struggled to keep an eye out for Magnitude. By 11:00 pm, a running light appeared off the stern, although not confirmed to be Magnitude, it was our boat to match race to the finish. With the radar painting them up, and the running lights giving away their angle, we were able to stay between them and the finish. The distance between Mag and us fluctuated from ½ to 2 nm for the next 2 hours into the finish. Alchemy was the first monohull to finish @ 0119am with Magnitude finishing approximately 10 minutes behind. The crew was able to hit the Bahia for last call and feel fortunate we were on the fastest monohull of the race. We knew the poor guys still out there had a tough night ahead. Alchemy trophies were: First in ULDB A, First ULDB overall, First to monohull to finish.